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RVHillbillE · 07-22-2022, 04:58 PM

I traded in a 2020 Highlander Hybrid for the RAV4 to have a vehicle I can tow.

carybosse · 07-22-2022, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVHillbillE

Every vehicle I have owned over the last 50 years had a parking brake, a pedal on the floor to set it and a handle to release it. This car does not have a pedal or a release. It's automatic and I don't know how to release it when in park.

Are you saying that when you put your RAV4 in PARK, it sets the parking brake?

I am new to the electric parking brakes, and my truck will set the parking brake on a hill, so, I guess when you pull it up on a tow dolly, it is at an angle, so it automatically sets the parking brake. Interesting. I have a button to release my parking brake, but I assume it is useless once I have the key off. I may have to go play with that.

Punkinhead · 07-22-2022, 05:06 PM

If you didn't get an owner's manual with the car you can download it from the Toyota web site. It explains how to operate the parking brake in automatic and manual modes and how to change between the two. It also explains that the AWD version should not be towed with ANY wheels on the ground.

EdInArk · 07-22-2022, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVHillbillE

Every vehicle I have owned over the last 50 years had a parking brake, a pedal on the floor to set it and a handle to release it. This car does not have a pedal or a release. It's automatic and I don't know how to release it when in park.

Well, now, that's a whole new wrinkle. Our RAV4 is a '13 model and has the handle between the seats. What year model is yours?

EdInArk · 07-22-2022, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVHillbillE

I traded in a 2020 Highlander Hybrid for the RAV4 to have a vehicle I can tow.

Does this help?

https://youtu.be/vw3kPHZjQCQ

RVHillbillE · 07-23-2022, 02:05 PM

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. EdinArk found the answer. The darn thing has an electric parking brake. To turn it off you just have to (a) know there is a switch (B)push down on the switch and hold. I went out and tried it just now so problem solved.
For all those they said just put it in park and go, I should have said up front that was how I assumed it worked too, until I pulled off and heard that horrible screech of tires. When I looked back I hade left a nice skid mark too. Again, Thanks to All!

EdInArk · 07-23-2022, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVHillbillE

Thanks to everyone who chimed in. EdinArk found the answer. The darn thing has an electric parking brake. To turn it off you just have to (a) know there is a switch (B)push down on the switch and hold. I went out and tried it just now so problem solved.
For all those they said just put it in park and go, I should have said up front that was how I assumed it worked too, until I pulled off and heard that horrible screech of tires. When I looked back I hade left a nice skid mark too. Again, Thanks to All!

I was puzzled about why it was such a mystery. I mean, that's how it works on my 2013 RAV4.

Youtube is a wonderful resource. Once I got it through my punkin head that your issue was an automatic parking brake, which I'd never heard of

, it wasn't hard to find.

I'm delighted it helped.

theroc · 07-23-2022, 04:00 PM

That's why I asked in my first post in this thread, "What model year is your RAV4?" I was picturing in my mind an older one for some reason.

Glad you've got everything figured out, though.